Gov. Christie to tell N.J. lawmakers job is 'only half done' at special joint session of Legislature

Governor plans to tell Democrat-controlled body to pass his version of property tax reform

Patti Sapone/The Star Ledger Governor Christie signs a $29.4 billion budget into law Tuesday during a ceremony at South River fire department headquarters.

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie is planning to scold the Democrat-controlled Legislature today in a special session he ordered for work on property tax reform.

While Democrats derided the session as a political stunt, Christie was preparing to tell lawmakers their job is "only half done" after passing the budget this week.

The governor will make his case on the hotly contested issue during two televised speeches at the Statehouse. Late Wednesday, Christie also notified lawmakers he is calling for another session Friday to continue the process.

"Now it is time to turn our full attention to enacting real, sustainable property tax relief for New Jerseyans," Christie wrote lawmakers. "The taxpayers need relief and expect us to act soon."

Though the governor has no authority to dictate terms or an agenda for the Legislature, leaders of the two houses agreed Wednesday night to take up the cause of property tax reform.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said the upper house will begin its work on a variety of proposals in the afternoon and he invited the governor to address the Senate at 6 p.m.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) will gavel her chamber to session at 3 p.m. for the governor’s address. She has also directed her members to return to Trenton Friday for a series of committee hearings.

"Property taxes and the state’s fiscal integrity are matters of great concern to all New Jersey residents," Sweeny wrote to the governor Wednesday night. "This Legislature will confront these issues in a manner that will ensure fairness to the taxpayer and preserve the quality of life for all New Jerseyans. The residents of New Jersey deserve nothing less."

Oliver did not issue a statement.

Referring to the governor, Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) said the Legislature was "humoring his grandiosity."

Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski said the special session is "absurd." "The governor wants to amend the constitution not because he firmly believes the constitution is broken and needs to be fixed but because the governor wants to amend the constitution to score cheap debating points," said Wisniewski, an assemblyman from Middlesex County. "I don’t know what’s going to happen over the next couple of days."

Republican lawmakers said Wednesday night they would make motions today to begin reviewing and adopting the governor’s proposals, the centerpiece of which is a 2.5 percent constitutional cap on property tax increases.

Christie arrived in Trenton promising to control state spending and cut taxes. After months of back and forth, the Legislature early Tuesday adopted a $29.4 billion budget that barely altered the plan the governor proposed in March.

Amid the flurry of the final budget voting, the Legislature also passed bills designed to steal Christie’s thunder on property tax reform. They included a measure that would cap annual increases at 2.9 percent and allow for exceptions the governor opposes. Christie can amend that legislation to reflect his proposals, but he insists the tax cap be no higher than 2.5 percent and that the policy be enacted through constitutional amendment, not a statute that can be changed.

Only the Legislature can put an amendment on the ballot, and the governor is trying to force lawmakers to do that by the July 7 deadline.

Christie and his staff declined to offer an official preview of his remarks he plans to give today. But two administration officials briefed on the details said he plans to deliver 15 to 20 minutes of unscripted remarks explaining his vision and philosophy to the public. His mantra is expected to be "the job is only half done with the budget."

And he is expected to implore residents to contact their legislators in support of his property tax reforms.

• Gov. Chris Christie calls special legislative session on N.J. property tax overhaul
• Gov. Christie is expected to order lawmakers into session for N.J. property tax cap bill

Coverage of N.J. Assembly budget vote:

• $29.4B budget passes
• Marathon session ends with cheers, vuvuzela
• Funds restored for family planning clinics
• Property tax cap bill
• Delaying start of medical marijuana
• Customized team license plates

Coverage of N.J. Senate budget vote:

• $29.4B budget passes
• Funds restored for family planning clinics
• Vow to veto developers fee moratorium bill
• N.J. groups protest 'outrageous' budget cuts
• Use of saved funds to avoid teacher layoffs
• Property tax cap
• $175K salary cap for local officials
• Interdistrict school choice program